Steam board



Dec. 17, 1929. H. BETKE 3 STEAM BOARD Filed Oct. 28. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 jMw/M H. BETKE Dec. 1-7, 1929.

5 TEAM B OARD Filed Oct. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 latcnted Dec. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE .HEBMAN BETKE, 0F DENVER, COLORADO STEAM am) Application filed October 28, 1927. Serial No. 229,424.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved construction of steam board.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improvedconstruction of steam board adapted for use in the steaming of rugs, drapes and other large sections of fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construciton of steam board adapted for use in the steaming of large sections of fabric, said steam board incorporating superheating elements adapted for operation independently of the steaming apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of steam board wherein means are provided for establishing and maintaining a high temperature throughout the apparatus before, during and after a steaming operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of steam board wherein means are provided for exhausting steam and water of condensation from the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of steam board wherein means are provided whereby the steaming operation may be reversed and air drawn through fabric-under treatment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of steam board wherein means are provided for removing steam trapped in fabric under treatment.

A further object of the invention is to be found in the provision of a steam board combining steaming means adapted for use in treatin large sections of fabric and steaming means adapted for use in treating sleeves and similar tubular sections of fabric.

A further object of the invention is to be found in the combination with a steam board adapted for the steaming of large sections of fabric of a steam sleeve board supported thereon and connected therewith and means common to both boards whereby the combined apparatus may be heated.

A further object of the invention is to be found in the combination with a steam board adapted for the steaming of large sections of fabric of a steam sleeve board supported thereon and connected therewith and means 7 common to both said boards whereby the steaming process of said boards may be reversed and air drawn through fabric under treatment thereon.

A further object of the invention is to be found in the combination with a steam board ofa sleeve board mounted thereon and steam connected therewith, means whereby both boards may be heated from a common source, means whereby both said boards may be operated selectively or simultaneously for steaming purposes, a fabric protecting table beneath said steam board and means whereby the steaming operation ofeither or both said boards may be reversed to draw air through fabric under treatment thereon.

My invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine or apparatus assembled and ready for use. Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of the operating head and connec tions of the apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 4 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the machine shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a vertical section through the apparatus shown in Figure 1. I Figure 6 is adetail vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through a Venturi tube or suction element employed in the apparatus. Figure 7 is a vertical section through the steam sleeve board forming a part of the complete apparatus.

In the construction of the apparatus as shown, the numeral 10 indicates a suitable pedestal or support which may be of any shape or construction desired and which is illustrated as being formed of diverging longitudinal ribs and as having an integral base 11 at its lower end wiereby it may be secured to a floor or other supporting surface and a horizontal flange 12 at its upper end, said flange serving as a support for the operating head 13 of the steam board which is bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The 0pfabrics treated on the machine.

crating head 13 is preferably formed by moulding or casting of metal, is relatively wide and shallow and contains three transverse chambers or compartments 14, 15 and 16. The compartments 14, 15 and 16 are disposed within the head 13 in parallel relation and have no inter-communication save as hereinafter specified and no communication with the atmosphere and they are of different widths and depths, the compartment 14 having the least cross-sectional area and the compartment 16 the greatest cross-sectional area. The side wall of the compartment 16 farthest removed from the compartment .15 is omitted and the margin of the head 13 surrounding the opening into the compartment 16 is widened and thickened to form a flange about said opening. A hollow metallic shell 17 is formed with a larger, open end adapted to register with the opening into the compartment 16 and a smaller closed end, said shell being substantially oval in cross section and tapering in plan and in elevation from the larger to the smaller end, the upper or top surface of said shell being perforated as indicated at 18, and said shell is further formed with a flange 19 turned outwardly from its open larger end and is secured to the head 13 in registering position with the opening in the compartment 16 by means of bolts or screws 20 passed through holes in a clamp ring 21, flange 19 and a gas ket 22 to engage with or through the above mentioned flange about the opening of the compartment 16 The gasket 22 is interposed between the margin of the head 13 and the flange 19 to prevent leakage therebetween. A covering 23, of porous fabric or similar material, is provided for the exterior surface of the shell 17 in order that a clean, non-staining surface may be presented to the A plurality of tubes 24, in this instance four in number, have each one open and one closed end and a length sufiic-ient to extend from the inner wall of the compartment 16to a point adjacent the closed end of the shell 17 and said tubes are mounted within said shell and compartment 16 with their open ends secured to or in the inner wall of said compartment and opening through said wall into the compartment 15 and their closed ends adjacent the closed end of said shell. A plurality of pipes 25, of a number equal 'to the number of tubes 24, have each both ends open and are secured at one end in or to the wall between the compartments 14 and '15, the openend of the pipes 25 opening into the compartment 14 through said wall, the length of said pipestravcrsingthe compartment 15 and being received within the tubes 24 to terminate in an open end within said tubes and adj acent the closed end of the latter.

ofsteam, not shown, and is received through A steam line or pipe 26 leads from any suitable source the outer wall of the compartment 14 and discharges into said compartment. A return steam line or pipe 27 is tapped into the lower portion of the compartment 15 and leads back to the source of steam. Suitable cutoff valves or controls may be included in the steam lines 26 and 27, but since these lines are normally open for continuous circulation'of steam when the apparatus is being operated, such valves or controls have not been illustrated. It may be readily seen that steam passing through the line 26 is discharged into the compartment 14, from whence it is led through the pipes 25 to be discharged into the tubes 24 adjacent their closed ends and returns through said tubes to the compart ment 15 and thence through "the steam line 27 to the source of steam. Thus is provision made for a continuous circulation of steam within the operating head 16 and shell 17 by means of the pipes and tubes described, which circulation of steam heats the entire apparatus to a high temperature and maintains the temperature, thereby preventing condensation of steam used in the steaming operations and consequent damp or wet conditions ofthe apparatus. A-branch 28 is connected with the steam line 26 adjacent the apparatus and leads from said steam line through' a manually-operable valve 29 to discharge into the compartment 16 above the tubes 24, to the end that when the valve 29 is opened, steam from the line 26 is admitted into the compartment '16 and circulates within said compartment and within the shell 17 opening into said compartment and is discharged through the perforations 18 in said shell and passes through the covering 23 and any fabric spread over said covering, thereby steaming said fabric. A second branch 30 is led from the steam line 26 in any convenient location relative to the apparatus, said branch leading through a valve 31 to an open dis charge end or to any suitable drain or outlet. The valve 31 is normally spring closed and is provided with an operating lever 32, said lever'being preferably connected with a treadle or pedal 33 positioned for convenient foot operation longitudinally beneath the appara tus. Betwen the outlet end of'the branch 30 and the valve 31 a Venturi tube or suction element 34 is positioned, said tube being shown inconventional form and comprising an element having a bore 35 tapering from each end to a constricted throat 36 and a smaller bore 37 intersecting the throat 36 at right angles thereto. The bore .35 andthroat .36 of the element 34 being in the steam path of the branch 30, it follows that when the valve 31 t :37. The bore 37 of the element 34 is connected by means of a pipe 38 with the lowermost point of the compartment 16 to the end that the suction effect of the element 84 serves to exhaust steam and water of condensation from said compartment and from the shell 17 and in addition draws air into said shell and compartment through the fabric being treated and perforations 18, thereby removing steam trapped in said fabric and drying and aerating the same. The pipe 38 also serves as a drain for water of condensation from within the compartment 16 and shell 17 and for the escape of excess steam pressure from within the said shell when the valve 31 is closed.

A bracket arm 39 extends upwardly and outwardly from the pedestal 10 and supports a steam sleeve board on its upper end, said sleeve board being positioned above, at one side of and parallel with the main steam board. The sleeve board is in all respects similar to the steam board above described and comprises a compartmented head 13', a perforated shell 17 a covering 23 for said shell, an interior heating element comprising a tube 24 and pipe 25, a steam line 26 connecting with the steam line 26, a return line 27 connecting with the return line 27, a branch line 28 leading from the steam line 26, a valve 29 in the branch 28 and a drain and exhaust pipe 38 connecting with the pipe 88. It follows from the connections shown and described, that as steam is circulated in the heating element of the steam board it is likewise circulated within the sleeve board heating element, and that operation of the exhausting means of the steam board is likewise effective to exhaust the sleeve board, and that said sleeve board functions as asteamer when the valve 29 is manipulated. The valves 2% and 29 are'preferably supplied with non-heatconducting handles, but said valves may be arranged for foot or other operation if desired. A second bracket arm 40' extends upwardly and outwardly from the pedestal 10 opposite to the arm 39, and said arm 40 supports a tray or rest 41 on its upper end, said tray being convenient to receive and hold in convenient position brushes, sponges and the like to be used on fabric being steamed. A table is provided beneath and spaced from the steam board to receive fabric and prevent the same from contacting with the floor, said table comprising a substantially rectangular frame 42 supported at one end by the pedestel 10 and provided with a leg 43 beneath the other end and a fabric cover 44 marginlly lapped about said frame and laced or stitched in position thereon.

In the operation of the apparatus above described, the steam lines 26 and 27 being connected with a suitable source of steam, steam is circulated continuously through said lines and within the heating elements of the steam board and steam sleeve board, whereby said boards are heated. Fabric to be treated is str tched over either of the boards and the isfaction of the operator, the valve 29 or 29 is closed and the treadle 33 is operated to open the valve 31, permitting steam to pass through the suction element 34 and generate a suction effective through the pipes 88 and 38 to exhaust the steaming chambers of both boards, any water of condensation being thus drawn off and exhausted from said boards.

Since many changes in construction, form and number of elements, arrangement of parts and operating means are possible without departing from the spirit of my inven tion, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims Iclaim as my invention 1. A steam board comprising an operating head, spaced, parallel, non-communicating compartments transversely within said head, a perforated shell opening into one of said compartments, a drain and exhaust pipe communicating with said compartment, heating elements within and sealed from said shell, said elements comprising each a tube opening into a second of said compartments and a pipe within said tube and opening at one end into said tube and at the other end into a third of said compartments, a steam line communicating with said third compartment and a steam return pipe communicating with the second of said compartments.

2. A steam board comprising an operating head, spaced, parallel, non-communicating compartments transversely within said head, a perforated shell sealed at one end and open ing at the other end into one of said compartments, a porous cover for said shell, valvecont-rolled means whereby steam may be circulated within said compartment and shell, a drain and exhaust pipe communicating with said compartment, tubes within and sealed from said shell and communicating at one end with a second of said compartments, a steam return line communicating with said second compartment, pipes within said tubes openingat one end adjacent the closed ends of said tubes and communicating at the other end with a third of said compartments and a steam line communicating with said third compartment.

8. A steam board comprising an operating head formed with spaced, parallel, non-communicating compartments, a perforated shell communicating with one of the compartments of said head, heating elements within and sealedfrom said shell, said elements including tubes communicating with a second of said compartments and pipes in said tubes communicating with-a third of said compartments, means whereby steam may be continuously circulated within said heating elements, valve-controlled means whereby steam may be optionally circulated within saidshelh-a valve-controlled steam exhaust pipe forming a branch of said steam circulating means, and steam operable suction means in said steam exhaust pipe and operatively connected with said shell. I 1 V 4:. In a steam board having a compartmented head and a perforated shell opening at one end into one of the compartment-s of said head and means for controlling the circulation of steam within said head and communicating compartment, means whereby said steam board may be heated by a continuous circulation of steam, said means comprising tubes within and sealed from said shell and communicating at one end with a second of said compartments, open-ended pipes within said tubes having one end adjacent the closed ends of said tubes and the other ends communicating with a third of said compartments, a steam line communicating with said third compartment and a steam return line communicating with said second compartment.

5. In a steam board having an operating head formed with a plurality of parallel, noncommunicatin compartments, a perforated shell communicating with one of said con partments, heating elements, comprising each a tube communicating with a second of said compartments and a pipe communicating with a third of said compartments to discharge within and adjacent the closed end of said tube, within and sealed from said shell, and steam connections whereby steam may be caused to circulate continuously within said heating elements and optionally within said shell, means for exhausting steam and water of condensation from the interior of said shell, said means comprising a steam exhaust pipe, steam-operable suction means in said steam exhaust pipe, and a pipe connecting said suction means with the interior of said shell, together with valve control means in said steam exhaust pipe.

6. In a steam board having an operating head formed with a plurality of parallel, non v communicating compartments, a steaming chamber communicating with one of said compartments and heating elements communicating with a second of said compartments within and sealed from said chamber, steam connections whereby steam may be caused to circulate optionally within said chamber and continuously within said heating elements and further connections whereby said steaming chamber may be exhausted of steam and water of condensation, said connections comprising a steam line discharging into a third of said compartments, pipes-communicating with said third compartment within and adapted to discharge adjacent the and State of Colorado, this 20th of Sep tember, 1927.

HERMAN BETKE.

closed ends of said heating elements, a valve 

